Casual Dining 2018

Innovation Challenge Awards 2018: Who will get your vote?

Press Releases

Buyers looking for the latest innovations will have plenty to keep them busy at Casual Dining 2018, with more new products to see, sample and demo than ever. The Innovation Challenge Awards Gallery — showcasing 50 of the best casual dining innovations of the year — is always a good starting point to see what’s new.  Here’s a preview of the products hoping to win innovation awards at the show: Visitors are encouraged to vote for their favourite innovations on opening day (from 10am on 21 February) – as they’ll be the ones to decide the final shortlist of exhibitors who’ll…

Casual Dining confirms Innovation Challenge contenders for 2018

Press Releases

Thousands of casual dining restaurant, pub and bar operators from across the UK will be in London next week, over 21-22 February – as Casual Dining returns to the Business Design Centre to showcase the best new products, solutions, insights, and innovations of the year. Its fifth anniversary show, featuring 200 exhibiting companies, is now its biggest in every respect – with a record number of entries confirmed for both its annual Innovation Challenge Awards and King of Craft Competition. Carlsberg UK, Coca-Cola Freestyle, Heineken UK, Schweppes, AAK Foodservice, Westlers, and Rational UK are among the dozens of manufacturers and…

Casual Dining Keynote speakers 2018

Pub & restaurant leaders share the best advice they’ve ever been given

Press Releases, Speaker Q&As

For Mitchells & Butlers’ Susan Chappell, “sharing stories that inspire and energise us to do something differently” is a big part of Casual Dining show’s long-standing appeal.  Its popular Keynote Theatre, which attracts hundreds of visitors per session, offers an invaluable opportunity to hear expert insights, business strategies and advice from some of the biggest names in the business. We asked Susan, and a few of our other 2018 speakers, to share the best advice they’ve ever received — those nuggets of wisdom that helped inspire them to think ‘differently’. Susan Chappell, divisional director/exec co, Mitchells & Butlers: “Do a…

Richard Boon Hubbox

Speaker Q&A (2018): Richard Boon, Hubbox

Speaker Q&As

Our final speaker Q&A for 2018 features Richard Boon, MD and founder of Hubbox.  He’ll appearing alongside Flat Iron’s Jo Fleet and KuPP’s Lesa Kleidon in the ‘Large multi-site brands of the future’ panel session on the show’s opening day (21 February).  With over 20 years’ of experience within the hospitality, tourism, nightclub, and restaurant sector, he’ll be sharing his insights into building — and expanding, a regional brand. What do you see as key trends for the casual dining sector in the coming year?  I love reading the trend forecasts published at the beginning of the year.  How many of them were forecast…

Susan Chappell, Mitchells & Butlers

Speaker Q&A (2018): Susan Chappell, Mitchells & Butlers

Speaker Q&As

Susan Chappell, divisional director / executive committee at Mitchells & Butlers, is another new speaker for 2018.  Drawing on insights from over 26 years with the company (she now has responsibility for All Bar One, Browns, Nicholson’s and the Castle pub portfolio), she’ll be discussing the challenges of staying ahead and relevant to your guests when ‘Operating a range of brands and formats’.  What do you see as key trends for the casual dining sector in the coming year?  We need to take drink as seriously as food, as we are seeing a return to the drink occasion.  Guests want…

Jon Knight Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group

Speaker Q&A (2018): Jon Knight, Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group

Speaker Q&As

Jon Knight, the new head of the Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group, plans to give us plenty of  ‘Food for thought’ in his opening day Keynote at Casual Dining — delving into difficult times, his fresh approach and how to revive a global business.  We caught up with him before the show to find out more. What do you see as key trends for the casual dining sector in the coming year?  I think we’ll see a continuation of restaurants focusing on serving single products, like just serving up a few great bowls of pasta.  I think we’ll see even more…

Pub operators gear up for Casual Dining 2018

Press Releases

Already a magnet for top buyers from across the casual dining sector, Casual Dining 2018 is expecting to see a record number of UK pub and bar operators among its attendees later this month — when doors open at the Business Design Centre in London on 21-22 February. Event organiser Diversified UK says the number of pub and bar buyers at Casual Dining has swelled year on year (it was up 10% in 2017 and a massive 25% in 2016) – reflecting the growing importance of food sales as a crucial revenue stream for many.

Speaker Q&A (2018): Alexander Salussolia, Glendola Leisure Group

Speaker Q&As

Alexander Salussolia is managing director of Glendola Leisure Group — one of the UK’s leading independent private pub and restaurant operators. He’ll be appearing alongside the Yummy Pub Co’s Tim Foster, Brian Keeley-Whiting, MD of Whiting & Hammond, and Kate Nicholls, chief executive of The ALMR, to discuss ‘Are we growing our pubs or saving our pubs?’ on the show’s opening day. What do you see as key trends for the casual dining sector in the coming year?  Recruitment challenges, environmental consciousness, and the growth in dietary lifestyle choices — such as dairy, gluten and protein free options. What do you feel…